About three months ago, I contacted CC>CC President Mike Skelton and asked him if the CC>CC Board of Directors would consider naming the Annual Top Recruiter Award - The Bob Mera Award for Top Recruiter.

The Board had previously honored other Hall of Fame members who had pasted away by naming Club functions and awards after departed Hall of Fame members - The Bruce Landau Annual Auction and the Harvey Fuller Award for the Outstanding Newsletter Article.

I felt that Bob's name should be forever associated with the Recruiting Award, since Bob was one of the Greatest Recuiters in CC>CC History.

I am extremely pleased that my dear friend and the person who signed me up for Club membership has been honored by the CC>CC.

Mike Skelton contacted me a few days ago and informed me that my request to honor Bob had been approved by the CC>CC Board.

Mike asked me to wait until he made the official announcement before I let anyone know about the Honor that was given in Bob's memory.

Now I can tell everyone that BOB MERA will always be thought of when the Annual Top Recruiter Award is presented.

I am not ashamed to say that when I heard the news from Mike, I told my wife and then I began to cry as I thought of my departed friend and how he got me started in this Hobby I love so much.

I miss Bob and think about him almost everyday as I do my "chippin" which has become such a big part of my life.

Bob is also the one who gave me the name "Mr. Roulette".

I just wanted to do something special for my old friend.

Bob - rest in peace - you will never be forgotten.

Take care,
"Mr. Roulette"

Below is a copy of Mike Skelton's annoucement.

The Robert "Bob" Mera Award

Posted By: Mike Skelton, HLM-1003 (207.200.116.198)
Date: 5/9/2005 10:22 a.m.

The Board of Directors has voted unanimously to rename the Recruiter of the Year award, The Robert “Bob” Mera Award. This award is given each year to the Club member who recruits the largest number of new members into the CC & GTCC. It is a fitting honor for a man whose recruiting activities were instrumental in the early growth of the Club.

CC & GTCC Hall of Fame member Robert “Bob” Mera was an avid blackjack player who eventually became a dealer in several Atlantic City casinos. It was as a dealer that he developed his love for casino chips. In the early 1990's, Bob began selling casino chips and related items from a pushcart at the Boardwalk One mall near Caesars Atlantic City. Soon he opened a retail shop in the mall and called it the "Gaming Emporium."

Bob's shop became the unofficial headquarters for chipping activity in Atlantic City, with many club members stopping in whenever they were in the area. As a result of his enthusiasm for the hobby and his unique exposure in the mall, Bob became the top recruiter of new members for CC & GTCC for an unprecedented five years in a row: 1990 through 1994.

In 1995, Bob became the driving force behind the formation of the Atlantic City Chapter of CC & GTCC, one of the Club's first chapters. He is credited with having recruited a majority of the members of the 350-member chapter.

Robert “Bob” Mera passed away in 1999, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously in 2002.